Grill and griddle cleaning device

ABSTRACT

A device for cleaning griddles and grills has a heat resistant pad carried by a carriage, which in turn is manipulated by a motor to move in an oscillating and/or planar agitating motion, analogous to a hand-held motorized sander. A dispensing container with liquid for shocking the grill is mounted on the device or provided internally. A scraper can be attached to the device.

This application is based on provisional application 60/801268, filedMay 18, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a motorized device with detachable elementsfor cleaning a grill or griddle.

Grills and griddles are ubiquitous, from grills for barbeque orYakitori, to griddles found in diners and restaurants. A griddle is aflat metal heated surface on which food is cooked directly, whereas agrill has parallel bars on which the food lies and is exposed to heat.

A griddle is usually cleaned with a hand-held scrubbing pad, an abrasivescreen, steel wool, and the like which may be provided with a holder. Inaddition, a foamed glass brick (such as ACS brand Scrubble grill bricks)can be used to scrape the griddle surface. The griddle should be cleanedwhile hot, and the food material and any sluff or swarf from thecleaning element is then removed. During the day while the cookingsurface is being used, a spatula or special scraper is used to removefood bits to a trough on the side and/or back for later removal. At theend of the day the griddle is cleaned with a scouring device (such asthe pad, screen, or wool) mentioned above, sometimes using oil, clubsoda (seltzer), or vinegar (acetic acid) to “shock” the grill. It takeselbow grease to clean a griddle, and determination when it must be doneat the end of the day.

On the other hand, grills are typically cleaned using a brush,especially one having wire bristles, and using a variety of scrapers,often with semicircular openings contoured to match the diameters andspacings of the bars of the grill.

In the area of home improvement, many hand tools have been motorizedand/or miniaturized to meet the demand for homeowners to have their ownpower tools. More relevant to the present invention are motorizedhand-held sanders, which can be oscillating (e.g., U.S. Pat. No.6,129,618 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,569,002), rotary (e.g., U.S. Pat. No.4,467,565, including orbital motion), a drum or belt sander (e.g., U.S.Pat. No. 6,475,075), or a vibrating apparatus (e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,616,072).

The foregoing patents are all incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, this invention combines the benefits of amotorized hand-held sander with a scouring device to provide ahand-held, motorized griddle cleaning device.

In summary, this invention provides a griddle cleaning device having anengine in a housing connected to and having means to cause essentiallyplanar oscillation and/or agitation movement of a carriage, the carriagehaving means for releasably retaining a pad suitable for a griddle, anda pad. The pad can be either for scouring or polishing. The engine ispreferably an electric motor having a rechargeable battery power supply.The top (non-working surface) of the pad, the carriage, and/or theunderside of the housing preferably has a heat-insulating material. Ascrapper can also be attached to the device. The device can includeliquid reservoir for dispensing liquid onto the griddle. A vacuumconduit can be provided to allow vacuuming of material removed from thegriddle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of opposing mating surfaces of a pad and acarriage.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the device with an attachedscraper.

FIGS. 4A and 4B and partial cross sections of a pad and grill.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of a device including a reservoir fora shocking liquid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

The present device is built on the engine of commercially available andwell-known motorized hand tools, such as the sanders mentioned above.Those devices have an electric motor with associated gearing, linkages,belts, and the like connecting with a carriage to create a desiredmovement (such as oscillating, rotary, orbital) in the carriage. In suchdevices, an abrasive material (sandpaper or a pad) is attached to thecarriage. In FIG. 1, the housing 101 contains the engine, based on thesecommercially apparatus, that drives the carriage 103 of the presentdevice. Attached to the carriage is a pad 105 having a working surface107 that contacts the griddle. The preferred motion for the carriage isrotary or combination rotary and orbtial, and/or random, although anytype of oscillatory motion and/or planar agitation can be suitableimparted to the pad.

The power to the engine of those commercially available sanders iseither provided by a cord, which is not desired when cleaning a heatedsurface, or rechargeable batteries. Often, the batteries can be removedfrom the device and replaced or swapped out to a battery charger.Otherwise, the batteries can be charged by placing the device in acharging stand where an electrical connection is made through a couplingfrom the charger to the batteries, or the battery are chargedelectromagnetically without a physical coupling.

The pad for the working surface is any suitable griddle cleaning pad,made of a high temperature resistant material such as metal, glass, orpolymer, and if polymeric preferably having abrasive particles attachedto the polymer.

A metal pad can be made from wool or gimped wire (preferably flat wire),typically stainless steel, copper, or brass.

A polymeric pad (such as sold under the Scotch-Brite mark by 3M Corp.)is typically a non-woven pad made from a material such as nylon oranother high temperature resistant polyamide or phenolic resin. Thefibers that have been used in non-woven abrasive articles are formedfrom various polymers, including polyamides, polyesters, polypropylene,polyethylene, and various copolymers.

Suitable abrasive particles can be formed of flint, garnet, aluminumoxide (alumina), diamond, silicon dioxide (silica), silicon carbide,etc. Binders for binding the abrasive to the fibers of the non-wovenmatrix commonly comprise one or more resins such as phenolic,urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, urethane, epoxy, and acrylicresins. Phenolic resins include those of the phenol-aldehyde type.Abrasive non-woven constructions, such as SCOTCH-BRITE brand productssold by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., are of a type requiring the use ofsolvent-coated cross-linked urethanes in the prebond to provide therequisite elasticity and protect nylon fibers of the web from attack bysubsequently applied phenolic make coats used for bonding of mineralabrasive into the web.

Non-woven abrasive articles have been made by the following generallyknown scheme. A “prebond” coating of a binder precursor solution withoutabrasive particles, such as one or more of the above-named resins, iscoated on a fibrous web and cured by exposure to heat and/or light inorder to impart sufficient strength to the non-woven web for furtherprocessing. The fiber web may comprise continuous filaments (e.g., aspunbond fiber web) and/or staple fibers that may be crimped and/orentangled with one another. The fiber web may, optionally, be affixed(i.e., secured) to a backing, for example, by needletacking,stitchbonding, and/or adhesive bonding (e.g., using glue or a hot meltadhesive). Then, a “make” coating based on a resinous organic binder isapplied to the web to secure fine abrasive grains throughout the loftyfibrous mat and cured. Thereafter, a “size” coating of resinous bindermaterial and abrasive particles is applied, usually by spray-coating,over the prebonded web to increase the abrasive characteristics of thearticle, such as preventing the abrasive mineral from shelling.Thereafter, the sizing is cured. The resins of the various prebond,make, and size coatings can be the same or different, depending on thevarious web and abrasive particle properties desired, and preferablytolerant to high heat, such as polyamides, polyaramids, phenolics, andpolyesters. Exemplary fibers are disclosed in the following U.S.patents, all of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,018,575; 5,591,239; 5,685,935; 5,681,361; 5,626,512; 6,302,930;6,733,876; 6,948,873; and 6,979,713.

A glass working surface can be foamed glass, such as described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,972,817, U.S. Pat. No. 5,821,184, and U.S. Pat. No.3,963,503, a glass pumice such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,306,or the like (the disclosure of the foregoing incorporated herein byreference). Foamed glass has long been used for cleaning griddles andgrills. Such products are typically made in a thick sheet. To fabricatesuch a material into the working surface pad for use with the presentdevice, the thick sheet preferably is first cut horizontally to make athinner sheet of the desired thickness, and thereafter the sheet is cutinto pieces of the desired geometry. A preferred thickness is about 0.75inch. Where the working surface is in the geometry of a regularquadrilateral (e.g., square, rectangular, rhomboid, paralleogram), thedesired geometry can be make by constructing frame having a grid made oftightly held wires and pressing the frame down into the sheet so thatthe wires sever (break) the glass (similar to the action of a cheesecutter). For a working surface in a geometry other than a regularquadrilateral (or even for such shapes, although less preferred), acutter (like a large cookie cutter or a cutter for making greetingcards) is forced into the glass sheet, preferably also with a smalloscillation and/or vibration. Alternatively, a water jet can be used forcutting any shape. Once the material is in the desired geometry, thepores are preferably filled and a backing material is added to form apad that can be attached to and removed from the mechanized device ofthis invention. The pores can be filled with a molten polymer orsolution of polymer that is cured and/or dried. For example, the cutshapes are transported on a porous belt (such as a wire mesh or screen)and the filler material applied to the upper surface with a doctorblade. With a continuous surface sealing the open pores of the foamedglass block or pumice, a backing material can be applied directly to thefiller before drying or curing of the sealing layer, or the backing canbe after first spraying an adhesive onto the now-sealed surface. Thepores can be filled and the backing attached in a single operation, suchas by spraying a sealant such as a hot melt adhesive to both fill theopen pores and provide a surface onto which the backing can be attached.The backing is preferably a felt or loop-like material effective formechanically engaging a corresponding hook-containing surface associatedwith the device, and removable therefrom.

An existing type commercially available sander is readily modified forthis invention, especially for use on griddles by interposing a hightemperature resistant material, preferably plastic, between the pad andthe carriage. For example, the carriage of such a device (the partcorresponding to the carriage of the present invention) can be replacedwith one made from a heat resistant phenolic resin and molded to providea mounting for the pad (as discussed below). Alternatively, a heatresistant, and preferably heat insulting layer, can be attached directlyto the carriage of such a device. Still further, depending on thethickness of the pad, a heat insulating layer can be applied to the pad,or less preferably provided as an intermediate layer requiring separatemounting to both the carriage (on one side) and the pad (on the opposingside).

The pad can be removably attached to the carriage by any means suitablefor attaching a pad or sheet to a conventional hand-held motorizedsander. Opposing mechanically interlocking portions, such as VELCRObrand hook and loop fasteners, can be used, with (for example) the hookportions on the carriage underside (the side facing the pad) and theloop portions on the top side of the pad. The “loop” type material canbe a felt, non-woven, or woven, or combination thereof, so long as itcan be removably attached to the carriage. The carriage can be made of asimilar high-temperature resistant polymeric material, and can be moldedso that the bottom surface has mechanically engaging fastener portionsfor cooperating with opposing portions on the pad (or the pad itself).If the pad is made of fibers having a geometry (e.g., diameter andspacing) suitable for use as the loop portion of such a fastener, thenno separate loop portion is needed on the pad; the pad can be removablymounted directly onto the hook portions molded into the carriage. A hightemperature temporary or pressure sensitive adhesive can also be used,since such adhesives are relatively better at preventing shear movementbetween the articles adhered. As another alternative, a connection platecan be attached to the top surface of the pad, analogous to the felt orbacking adhered to the foamed glass as described above. In such anembodiment the connection plate has openings for cooperating with feet(e.g., spring pawls, or button connectors) provided on the bottom of thecarriage to attach the pad to the carriage, or the plate can have thefeet inserted into corresponding openings in the carriage. A similartype of structure, wherein a portion on the top of the pad and a portionof the carriage cooperate for a releasable connection, such as a snapfit, can also be used. In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, astrip of cloth 201 can be attached to the top of a pad (such as bysewing or welding a polymeric cloth), and flaps 202 at the edges whichoverhang the pad width. Each flap can be attached via a clip 203 (suchas a spring clip used to maintain a planar portion of sandpaper on aconventional sander's carriage) on the upper side of the carriage, suchas in the gap 111 between the housing and the carriage. The clips canalso be provided instead on the frame, or the flaps can be sufficientlylong to connect to each other over the top of the frame.

FIG. 3 shows a scraper 301 (preferably metal) having a blade 303 forscraping the griddle attached via an attachment portion 305 insertedinto a slot 113 on the frame. The scraper length is preferably such thatwhen the device is level and in contact with the griddle, the blade isabove the griddle surface and thus does not normally contact the surfacewhen the device is energized. To use the scraper, the device is tiltedforward, so that the blade contacts the griddle and the pad isessentially lifted from the surface, so that even if the device isenergized, preferably both the scraper and the pad are notsimultaneously contacting the griddle surface.

The device preferably has a footprint that includes a toe having anacute angle, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at the front end 115 of the device.This toe allows the user to clean in the corners of the cooking surface.

While the present invention is described herein with reference togriddles, it is suitable for use with a variety of wares.

The pad can be made with grooves corresponding to the dimensions andspacing of the bars of a grill. The pad can be made with teeth dependingbetween the bars. By choosing the proper density of the pad, each toothcan be shaped like an inverted “T”, a depending tooth with extendedwings, or back-to-back “C”s, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, where thewings are sufficiently flexible to allow them to be forced below thebars 402, wherein the wings 403 enable the user to clean a large portionof the diameter of the grill. For a curved surface, such as the insideof a pot or a wok, the outer geometry of the pad can have acomplementary shape to facilitate scouring such a surface.

As with existing hand-held motorized sanders, the device can be providedwith a vacuum hole for attachment of a vacuum cleaner (or wet-dry vacuumdevice, or similar apparatus). The device is preferably sold with a setof pads having different characteristics and uses, such as forpolishing, buffing, and various levels of abrading. These uses maygenerate debris, such as dust from abrading, or be helped by removal ofdebris, such as when using a buffing compound. A vacuum attachmentenables removing such debris immediately without having to worry aboutthe debris traveling to other food service areas of the kitchen.

A reservoir, or liquid container, for holding a shocking liquid (asmentioned above) can be substituted for the scraper. The reservoir has adispensing port, such as a valve or sprayer actuated by the user(analogous to the water sprayer on a clothes iron), to dispense theliquid onto the griddle as desired. The container has an attachmentportion that engages the slot or a cooperating portion on the frame. Ifpositioned on or near the front of the device, the reservoir can includea scraper portion, and have a slot (or other port or receptacle) fordetachably receiving a scraper. The reservoir may be provided as asaddle, sitting over the device, leaving the front slot open for theoptional scraper attachment. Alternatively, as with a steam-generatingclothes iron having a water reservoir, the reservoir can be internal tothe device. More preferably, the reservoir is provided towards the rearend 117 of the device, and/or has a spout which empties at or towardsthe rear end of the device. As shown in FIG. 5, the reservoir 501 can beattached to the rear portion of the device. As mentioned above, aconventional motorized hand sander typically has a bore 503 in the rearfor the attachment of a vacuum cleaner hose.

Where a conventional sander is adapted for the present invention, thereservoir is molded with a boss at the front end to engage the bore. Incombination with the cooperation of the boss and the bore, where therear portion of the device is irregularly shaped and/or curvilinear orotherwise non-planar geometry, intimate contact between the reservoirand the device will reduce the tendency of the reservoir to rotate aboutthe boss. Alternatively, the housing can be molded with one or morebores, notches, grooves, or the like, and the reservoir can be moldedwith corresponding fingers or feet which engage the same to enable thereservoir to be mounted to the device. The reservoir is preferably madeby molding (e.g., blow molding) a plastic material that can be squeezed(such as polyethylene) so that the reservoir functions essentially as asqueeze bottle. The underside of the reservoir is provided with a nozzle505, such as a spray nozzle, enabling the reservoir to be squeezed toexpel the shocking liquid therein, and release of the pressure allowsair to enter the reservoir through the nozzle when the container expandsback to its original shape. It is preferred that the reservoir besupplied as a one-time use device with a disposable cap covering thenozzle until use; otherwise, the reservoir can be provided with anopening sealed by a screw cap or pop cap in a top, side, or rear wall,or the nozzle can be integral with a cap in the bottom side.

The boss has a side wall and an end wall that fits into the bore. Theend wall of the boss can be made flexible so that pushing on the endwall decreases the volume of the reservoir and forces fluid out thenozzle. The conventional sander can be modified to include a linkagemechanism between a button or lever on the housing of the deviceconnecting to a diaphragm or other type of pushing mechanism thatpresses on the end wall of the boss. In this way, the user can dispensefluid from the reservoir merely by pushing a button, or squeezing someportion of the housing or a device thereon or attached thereto.

The foregoing description is meant to be illustrative and not limiting.Various changes, modifications, and additions may become apparent to theskilled artisan upon a perusal of this specification, and such are meantto be within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by theclaims.

1. A device for cleaning a cooking surface, comprising: an engine in ahousing; said engine connected to and having means to cause essentiallyplanar oscillation and/or agitation movement of a carriage, the carriagehaving a mounting for releasably retaining a pad, said pad being atemperature resistant pad suitable for scouring a griddle.
 2. The deviceof claim 1, wherein said carriage has a bottom surface and said mountingis molded into said bottom surface.
 3. The device of claim 3, whereinsaid pad comprises a non-woven matrix and said mounting cooperatesdirectly with the non-woven matrix to releasably retain the pad on thecarriage.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a scraperremovably mounted to the housing.
 5. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a liquid container removably mounted to the housing anduser-actuatable means for dispensing liquid from the container.
 6. Thedevice of claim 5, further comprising a scraper.
 7. The device of claim6, wherein the scraper is removable.
 8. The device of claim 1, providedas a kit further comprising a plurality of pads, said pads having aleast two different characteristics.
 9. The device of claim 8, furthercomprising a scraper.
 10. The device of claim 9, further comprising areservoir.
 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a reservoirwithin the housing and user-actuatable means for dispensing liquid fromthe container.
 12. The device of claim 8, wherein the differentcharacteristics are the abrasiveness of the pads.
 13. The device ofclaim 8, wherein the different characteristics are the shapes of thepads.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the pad has depending teeth.15. The device of claim 14, wherein the teeth have wings.
 16. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the surface is a griddle and the pad is flat. 17.The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is a grill and the pad hasteeth.
 18. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface is curved and thepad is curved.